Stepping back to look ahead: why this outspoken parliamentary secretary volunteered to be demoted

By Charelle EvelynSep. 12, 2018

The normal trajectory for MPs is to want to work their way up to PS, then minister. But Celina Caesar-Chavannes says a barrage of social media abuse was one reason she decided to leave the plum role.

â€˜Iâ€™ve been obsessing about what people think throughout this whole journey and now itâ€™s about a decision that is smart and strategic, and this is what I need to do,' says Liberal MP Celina Caesar-Chavannes of her decision to turn down an offer to be parliamentary secretary. The Hill Times file photograph

Share a storyThe story link will be added automatically.

From: To: Message:

When Liberal MP Celina Caesar-Chavannes turned down the offer to serve another term as a parliamentary secretary, it wasnâ€™t a decision made lightly, she says, nor was it solely based on the social media abuse to which sheâ€™s been subjected for being a woman, particularly a woman of colour, who speaks her mind. First elected in 2015 to represent Whitby, Ont., Ms. Caesar-Chavannes was quickly plucked to serve as Prime Minister Justin Trudeauâ€™s right hand as his parliamentary

This is an exclusive subscriber-only story by The Hill Times. If youâ€™d like to read the full article:

The first-of-its-kind challenge of two 2014 rulings by the House Board of Internal Economy will set important legal precedent when it comes to the application and scope of parliamentary privilege protections in Canada.

Finance Minister Bill Morneau will likely release his much-awaited plan to help Canadian businesses affected by U.S. tax cuts as part of the fall economic update, but there's plenty more that could come out of it.